A Word from Your Pastor November 11

Dear Parishioners:

 

 

We have just completed a typical American journey through the political process.  We can now look forward to a respite from ads on TV, mail about candidates, and unsolicited phone messages seeking to influence our votes.  To all who chose to participate in the political process: congratulations!  You exercised a fundamental right and responsibility in society.  To all who are eligible to vote, but never registered or chose not to participate in this round: consider your duty and make plans now to be involved in the next round.

 

 

Now that the votes have been cast and counted, we move forward into a new phase: the time of transition.  When the new year comes, the newly elected (or re-elected) take office.  They decide how they will fulfill what they promised and push forward their agenda.  We will discover in the practical decisions whether they are trustworthy or whether they simply took a stand to get votes.  We will have to live with those who are chosen to lead us.

 

 

In the meantime, we cannot step back from our own responsibilities in civil society.  Now, more than ever, we have to continue to let our voices be heard.  Leaders take their mandates from the elections.  But they also continue to make decisions based on the polls and on what they hear from constituents.

 

 

The call of the Church in our time is to Evangelization and Witness.  We are to hear the Gospel, respond to it in our hearts, and to “wear it” in a public way.  Our cooperation with God’s grace makes all the difference.  Some may despair at the results of elections, but we do not put our trust in princes, but in the Name of the Lord.  Prayer has the capacity to move mountains and to change hearts.  Let us pray for the conversion of our leaders to attitudes and ways of thinking more in line with the Gospel values we profess.  Let us also pray for the pray-ers and seek to be converted in our own hearts.  That makes all the difference.

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 7, St. Timothy School had a special visitor: a Tiger
who came to wish Mr. George Mosholder a Happy Birthday.  The children were surprised at lunchtime to find this visitor
and the 40-year-old principal was a good sport about the event.  Happy Birthday, Mr. Mosholder!

 

Celebrating our Golden Jubilee:  Getting to know Saint Timothy’s Community of Faith.

 

Up to now, we have concentrated our study on the Scriptures associated with Ephesus, since that was the diocese of which our Patron St. Timothy was the first Bishop.  We are now considering another Letter associated with that community, this time from one of the early bishops of the Church named Ignatius of Antioch.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, CHAPTER XVI.--THE FATE OF FALSE TEACHERS.

Do not err, my brethren. Those that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If, then, those who do this as respects the flesh have suffered death, how much more shall this be the case with any one who corrupts by wicked doctrine the faith of God, for which Jesus Christ was crucified! Such an one becoming defiled in this way, shall go away into everlasting fire, and so shall every one that hearkens unto him.

CHAPTER XVII.--BEWARE OF FALSE DOCTRINES.

For this end did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured upon His head, that He might breathe immortality into His Church. Be not ye anointed with the bad odor of the doctrine of the prince of this world; let him not lead you away captive from the life which is set before you. And why are we not all prudent, since we have received the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we foolishly perish, not recognizing the gift which the Lord has of a truth sent to us?

The danger of false doctrines and “spins” on the truth is emphasized by St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Ephesians as he comes to the close of his letter.  We face the same struggles today.  When we are sent down false paths by falsehood at the outset, we will never reach our goal.  Truth is God’s gift to us to set us straight and to lead us to Heaven.  This warning can serve to remind us of the importance of study and prayer in regard to the teachings of the Church, especially those we find difficult or our current culture discounts from the outset.  Don’t be deceived!

 

Year of Faith October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013

October 11, began the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be read before the start of Mass and will be included in the Bulletin.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

II. Ways of Coming to Know God

31 Created in God’s image and called to know and love him, the person who seeks God discovers certain ways of coming to know him. These are also called proofs for the existence of God, not in the sense of proofs in the natural sciences, but rather in the sense of “converging and convincing arguments,” which allow us to attain certainty about the truth.  These “ways” of approaching God from creation have a twofold point of departure: the physical world and the human person.

32 The world: starting from movement, becoming, contingency, and the world’s order and beauty, one can come to a knowledge of God as the origin and the end of the universe.

As St. Paul says of the Gentiles: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. (Romans 1:19-20)

And St. Augustine issues this challenge: Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky... question all these realities. All respond: “See, we are beautiful.” Their beauty is a profession [confessio]. These beauties are subject to change. Who made them if not the Beautiful One [Pulcher] who is not subject to change?

Comment: The Church teaches that we can come to a certain knowledge that God exists through the light of reason.  Those who would argue against the existence of God have no answer for how it all started or for the reality of change, development, actuality from possibility, beauty and order.  Without a Creator Who sustains the world in being and establishes it laws, we are left with nothingness.  How do you respond to the skepticism of our age?  Can you articulate your own reasons for acknowledging that God exists?  What convinces you that God is real and that He is the Creator of the world?

This Week in Our History:   November 11-18

1966:   Father Winkler is continuing to improve.  He looks good, eats good and makes good progress daily.  He is still unable to receive visitors.  Please remember him in your prayers.

Spaghetti Dinner  - Today – Parish Hall – 1:30 until 7:30 p.m. – The greatest dinner anywhere!!!!  Don’t you dare eat at home today – Adults $1.50 – Children to 12 years $0.80 – Children under 3 years – FREE – The Fifth Anniversary of St. Timothy’s Parish is celebrated by this dinner.  Join the celebration.  Come to YOUR Parish dinner, which is for the support of YOUR Parish.

The collection last Sunday amounted to $3,169.20.  You good people who are responsible for the increase in collections – God’s blessings be upon you.  You will never know how much this collection means to us in taking care of arrears.   If only this could happen more often.   We are grateful for those who are bringing their pledges up to date.  We ask those who are behind to consider doing likewise so that we can meet our current obligations.

1967:   Men’s Club Meeting tonight at 8:00 in the parish hall.  Mr. James Musick, Chief Traffic Engineer for the All-American City of Columbus, Ohio, will speak on the changing traffic patterns in our neighborhood and specifically on changes brought about by the proposed extension of West North Broadway.  This should be an interesting discussion and every effort should be made to attend.

1969:    Home Mass:  Area 10 representative has arranged for a home Mass and get-acquainted social at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. Nicol, Kendale Rd., Thursday, November 20 at 8:00 p.m.  All Area 10 residents are invited.  Call Frank Gardner.

1975:  Explanation of new rite for Confession.  Fr. Joseph Champlin, national authority on Liturgy, Pastor, good speaker, will present the newly revised way of going to Confession at a meeting for priests and laypeople at the Josephinum tonight at 8:00.  They are going to have it in the gym – hoping to have over a thousand people.  Hope to see you there!

1976:    Happy Anniversary!  This is the fifteenth anniversary of St. Timothy Parish.  We celebrate the accomplishments of the past, and congratulate the people who have worked so hard over the years to make our parish so outstanding.  Our special gratitude to the priests who have labored in this vineyard, in particular, Fr. Winkler, the founding pastor, Fr. Stanton and Fr. Kraus.  We look forward to the great years ahead.

The beautiful new candles in the sanctuary were given by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Yheaulon, in memory of their parents, John and Edith Morgan, and Albert and Mary Yheaulon.  We are grateful.

  Those new candles will more striking when they have a red velvet drapery as background.  We can’t have that, though, until the Church is painted.  If you want to help in that project, you may sign up in the Cafeteria after Mass.

1977:   Please pray for the soul of Mr. Eugene Stark, whose funeral was this past week.

1984:   Special Notice:  The Main Building now has a burglar alarm on both floors.  Do not come into the building unless you are part of scheduled activity.

1989:   Some leftover Halloween candy will be given to the first person who can tell Father Thomas where the $400 error is in the financial report.  Please return your pledge card soon, and help the parish figure its next budget.

1990:    Our Parish welcomes Father Andrew Nugent, who will be living here in retirement.  Father has served many places throughout the diocese, and was pastor of the area here when St. Timothy was first formed into a parish about thirty years ago.  Father Nugent will join Father Thomas and Father Brezovec as one of the Mass celebrants here on most weekends.

1992:   Some Women’s Club events are foundering and our ability to support the parish as we have will decrease if we do not have a president or team of co-presidents. PLEASE consider the job.  Most events are already well-organized and in place, but leadership is needed to keep them going.

1991:   Congratulations to Ann Marchese and David Adams, who were married here last weekend.

1993:   Stop by and check out information on the first annual Christmas Ornament to support an endowment fund for the parish school.  $10.00 purchases a beautiful ornament to grace the parish trees in the church and then be given to your family for future Christmases.

1997:   Please remember in your prayers, Thomas C. Scott, who died this past week.

1998:    We’re over the top!  The final results are unbelievable.  Not only did we raise enough in pledges to surpass our $1,000,000 goal, but we also raised enough to cover the total cost of the project (new parish center/gym, school addition). We thank all who helped make this possible.  To all the campaign leaders and workers, we thank you for all your outstanding efforts.  To all the donors, we are deeply grateful for your outstanding generosity.

  *When you add the funds from Operation Facelift and the Festival to the pledges, the total potential funds available for this project are $1,864,603.   Thank you for your generosity.

2005:   Our sympathy to the family of Albert Brehl, who died this past week.  May he rest in peace.

2007:   St. Timothy School is pleased to announce that through the generosity of Tony and Annette Kanakkanatt, a new scholarship has been created for a graduating 8^th grade student at St. Timothy.  The Kannakkanatt Family scholarship’s primary eligibility will be for all dependent children of active duty U. S. military personnel who are serving or have served in a combat zone supporting the war on terror and any other future wars….It was created by the family in grateful thanksgiving for the contribution of St. Timothy School to their children’s education and in memory of Mr. Kanakkanatt’s 50^th year in America..  It is also in tribute to those who served in Iraq of Afghanistan since 9/11.

  Theirs was an extraordinary act of generosity, for which the entire community is most grateful.   Most people would think that the United States should be thankful that Tony chose to contribute his talents to its welfare.  It is characteristic of the man that he feels he should be grateful that the country allowed him to be here.

 

2010:   A Word from Your Pastor

  St. Timothy Church has been known for its hospitality through the years.  We have two bits of news to share with you that are a reminder of our noble tradition.  First, the Rectory will be hosting a priest in residence beginning this Monday, Fr. Bill Faustner, who is returning to ministry after some time of medical leave. He will…assist in the ministry of Sacramental and Pastoral Care and…at St. Timothy Church as his schedule permits.  We welcome Fr, Bill as he joins the list of those who have called St. Timothy Church home.

  Second, we have received word that Bishop Frederick Campbell will be celebrant for the opening event of our Parish 50^th Jubilee, on Saturday, November 26, 2011, at the 5:00 p.m. Mass.  We were established as a Parish of the Diocese of Columbus by decree of Bishop Issenmann on November 29, 1961.  It appears, then that we will be the first parish to celebrate the new English translation of the Mass with our Bishop – on the first day it is to be implemented.

Congratulations to Robert Walker, Anne Davidson, and Joe Fondriest, who were confirmed last Sunday at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.